Shopping perambulator



June 15, 1.948 P. c. GALLAGHER 2,443,236

SHOPPING PERAMBULATOR Filed Feb. 2'4, 1947 .M P.C.Galllagh e^f $2 5851,` 5744 52 l BY 'Aatented June 15, 1948 UNITED STATESy OFFICE SHOPING PERAMBULATR raul C. Gallagher, omaha, Nebr. Application February 24, 1947, Serialy No. 730,296

(Cl. 28o-Gy 1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to vehicles and more particularly, to perambulators;

It is an object of the invention to provide a perambulator which is so constructed that an adult, while shopping a grocery store, may gather groceries from various parts of said store and transport the merchandise on the new device to a cashier or clerk for purchase while, at the same time,. an infant or child, accompanying said adult, may be transported on the vehicle during said shopping in a manner whereby the infant isv guarded in a comfortable position, prevented from mischief and' without' interfering with saidv shopping nor the transaction of business in said store.

A further object of the invention is to provide a.. device for the above stated purposes which is of but little greater transverse width than the width of an infant, whereby the new device may be readily wheeled about a crowded store upon the floor of the latter and without colliding with stacksl of merchandise or other occupants of the store and which includesA a means for securing an' infantv thereto in a mann-er whereby said infant is prevented from handling the merchandise soldi by said store, during purchase of the merchandisev by the infants mother, nurse, or the like.4

A' further object of theinvention is' to providel a, Vehicle' having a singleA caster wheel at the front end thereof, saidwheel being disposed medl'all'y of the transverse width of said vehicle, whereby the wheel may' swivel about during use without contacting stacks of merchandise during a guiding of the vehicle about and upon the Hoor of'a grocery'store.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guard-horn at. each side of the caster wheel of said vehicle for preventing the vehicle from tiltting transversely unduly whereby the said infant and. also a quantity of merchandise carried by the-vehicle is prevented from becoming spilled or damaged;

A still furtherl object of the invention is' to provide 'a vehicle; which is so constructed' that one orv more baskets, employed for containing groceriesmay, be transported simultaneously with an` infant' and in a manner whereby` a basket is disposed partially under thev seat of the vehiclefor conserving room and a further basket is carried on the top of the new device.

Another object of the inventionl is to provideI a Vehicle' for lthe above' stated purposes'l'ravingl` a hook in an accessible position at an upperrear` end" of' the newdvice whereby `a mother; during 2*k transportation of an infantV on said device while simultaneously selecting and picking up mer-- chandise", may suspendv her 'purse' from said hook in a convenient position for use and for freeing atleast one of' her h'an'd's for .gathering merchandise' into or' upon thevehicle'.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention'will' be understood from the followingv detailed description thereof.

It' is well'known that atl times when a housewife and lier young child enters what is known` as' a` self-serve chain store` or the like where groceries are sold' at retailfthatv the mother ofl the child in addition to pushing a wheeled vehicleabout'the'ston eV for the purpose ofy gathering merchandis'ey on the vehicle must watch" and attendi to` the saiclchildthereby increasing the'difculties of-4 transactihg business both for the mother and" thec'ounter kclerks of the store. It is also well known that at times when young children are" permittedv to roam about ina store that quantities of merchan'dise become misplaced resultant' from the childhandling thev merchandise and that it often happens that children knock down stacksv of packaged goods underl the said conditions and the present invention aims to obvi'a'te certain of the-undesirable features of the prior practice by providing a perambulator combination co-operative for transporting a child* and merchandise thereon and in a manner Iwhereby ther child* is restrained during the transportation and comfortably seatedon the new device andthe gathering ofv merchandise on the lat-A tems-facilitated.

In the drawing Figure 1 isa sidev-iew of aA perambulator -andi depicting"- a" preferred embodiment of' the invention.

Figure 2 is a; verticalE elevation of the front; endloffthe new device.

Figure Sis` a top plan View of the perambulator shown nFigures- 1 and2, certain portions thereof, including al basket guard being omitted for convenienceofillustration.

Referring-now tothe. drawing for amorefparticular description I` indicates generally the perambulator of the present invention having two Ilike spaced apart sides.

Each side preferably includesA a standard Il, which, in use,.is disposedl approximately vertically having its upper and lower ends respectively welded or otherwise suitably secured to a shelf rail l2 and a bottom rail l'3.

That sideu of the device shown in Figure 1 further includesr arplat'form rail I4 whichis disposed above the bottom rail i3 and a portion of the rail i4 extends forwardly beyond the forward end I5 of the bottom rail I3. The said forward end l5 and the rear end of the platform rail ld are respectively welded to a side brace member I6.

The side of the new device, as shown in Figur-e l, includes a vertically disposed bar Il having its lower end suitably secured to the platform rail i4. The bar Il is provided with a horizontally disposed portion I8 formed at a right angle with respect to the vertical portion Il and a further portion i9 which extends from the rear end of,y

the portion I8 vertically and in parallelism wit the main body portion of the bar I'I.

The upper end 2i! of the bar portion l 9 is welded to the forward end of the horizontally disposed shelf rail l2 and as thus described it -will-be seen that the side of the device, shown in Figure 1, is step-cut to provide three steps, the treads of the latter consisting,t of the platform rail l 4, the Said portion I8 of the bar il and the shelf rail I2. The risers of said steps consist of the bar Il and the portion I@ of the bar Il.

The shelf rail I2 includes a rearwardly extending and upwardly disposed steering handle support portion 2l.

A brace 22 is preferably employed having its ends respectively welded to the standard II and the portion i9 of the bar l l. A medial portion of the brace 22 is welded to the lower edge of the shelf rail I2, said brace having a contour preferably as shown in Figure 1 and being formed of strap iron cr the like. Y

The above described parts il through y2l are preferably formed of angle iron or channel iron.

It will .be understood that the side of the new device which is oppositely disposed with respect to the side shown in Figure 1 is similarly constructed whereby it is provided with three steps. The steps of the one side are disposed in horizontal alignment with the steps of the other side together with the rails and vertically disposed standards I l and I I of said sides.

As shown in Figure 2 the said oppositely disposed side of the new device includes a side brace member It', a standard Il', a platform rail I4', a vertically disposed bar il and a portion I9? of the latter.

' Across the lowerrnost steps of the sides a platform 23 is provided which is welded to the upper edges of the lowermost steps. The medialportion of the platform 3 is supported by a transversely disposed bar 24 having its opposite ends-respectively welded to the platform rails I4 and i4. If desired the bar 24 and the said platform railsA I4 and 4? may be formed integral by. bending a single piece of angle iron to a configuration which is approximately C-shaped in plan.

Across the forward and rear ends of the' shelf rails l2 and it shelf bars 25 and 26 are respectively secured thereto, as best shown in Figure 3.

The upper shelf further includes any desired number of longitudinally disposed bars 27 and preferably at least one transversely disposed bar 28. The ends of the bars 2l' are respectively welded to the bars 25 and 26 and theends of the bar 2li are respectively weldedto the'shelf rails I2v and l 2 for providing a rigid construction and for supporting upon the said shelf a later described basket or container.

The steering handle of the device is indicated at 23 its opposite ends respectively welded to the portion or eXtensionZI of the shelf .rail I2 i a construction oflight weight.

and to the extension or portion 2| of the shelf rail i2.

Across those steps ofthe said sides whichare intermediate with respect to the platform steps and the upper shelf steps of the said sides, a seat 3d is secured by any suitable means to the said intermediate steps and to the upper edges of the portions i3 and I8 of the oppositely disposed like bars il and Ii respectively.

A back for the seat is indicated at 3l, said back preferably being formed of foraminous sheet metal. The edges of the back are respectively welded to lthe adjacent portion of the frame whereby the baci: of an infant or 'child may be supported and Ventilated, together with providing Adjacent each end of the seat 3G arm rests are provided for limiting movements of an infant seated on the member 3G transversely of the dcvice.

f Preferably the arms 32 and 33 are each formed of a length of pipe having a horizontally disposed portion and a vertically disposed portion. The ends of the pipe 32 are respectively secured to the seat and to the back 3l, as shown in Figure 2, the said arm 3d `being of the sam'econstructi-on and similarly secured tothe new perambulator.

The vertically disposed portions ofthe arms 32 and 33 are each provided with a ring 34. The rings are disposed through or otherwise suitably attached to the arms 32 and 33 respectively.

A detent Vstrap 35 is employed having one of its ends secured to the ring 34 of the arm 33 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The other end of thestrap extends through the ring 34 of the arm 32 bein provided with a buckle 36 for facilitating a detachment at the free end of the strap from the arm 32. As shown in Figure 2 the detent strap 35 is disposed a sufficient distance above the seat 3@ so that the thighs 3l of the torso 38 of an infant or young child may be placed under the. strap and rbetween the latter andthe seat 30 at the time the buttocks 3S of the said infant are-dis-V posed upon t-he seat 3l! as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1.

The Vfeet 4d of the infant'are carried upon vthe platform 23 whereby the infant is comfortably positioned and is prevented from sliding off the seat 30 while `a removal of the infant is permitted,

like railv I3', atransversely disposed barI hav-` ing its opposite ends respectively welded to the,

rear ends of the rails I 3 and I3' together with lofn gitudinally disposed bars 42 and preferably at least one transverse bar 43.` i The bar 43 has its opposite ends. respectively Welded tothe bottom rail I3 and the latters op# positely disposed mate I3. The bars 42 have their rear ends welded tothebar L4I and their forward ends. to a transversely disposed bar 44. The bar 44 has its opposite ends respectively welded to the forward ends ofthe bottom rails I3 and I3 and since all of the above described bars are vwelded together a sturdy frame is provided.

The new device further y includes a basket? guard rail 45 which as best shown in Figures 1 and 2 is disposed above the upper endof the back'l' of the seat. The lrail 45 extends rearward'ly and downwardly having its ends vrespectively welded to the shelf rails l2 and I2'. As best shown in Figure 2 the medial portions of the guard rail 45 are provided with supports 4B, The latter have their upper and lower ends respectivelyV welded tothe rail 45 land to the rail25. The guard rail 45 and its supports 35 are omitted from. Figure 3 for convenience of illustration.

Between the guard rail 4.5 and the handle 29 a basket'l'is disposed on the upper shelf during use of the new device.

To -a lower medial portion of the transversely disposed upper shelf bar 25 a hook 48 is secured whereby a purse 49 may be suspended therefrom by means of its strap 50 in an accessible position and out of the reach of a child seated forwardly thereof.

The lower shelf is adapted to support thereon a second basket I which is of a lesser width than the distance between the standards II and Il whereby the basket 5l may be withdrawn from the shelf and from between the said standards.

The forward end of the basket is disposed under the seat 30 co-operatively as shown in Figure 1 and since the handle 2S is 'disposedl rearwardly of the frame a person may manipulate the handle for pushing the device forwardly conveniently While taking steps for pushing the new device about and upon the floor of a store, without said persons legs striking the rear end of the basket 5l or said frame.

The rear end of the frame is supported upon oppositely disposed like wheels 52 which, if desired, may be provided with rubber tires, said tires being preferred as shown.

The wheels 52 may be provided with stub axles or preferably an axle shaft 54 extends `through the wheels, as shown in Figure 3, said axle shaft being welded to the under side of the bottom frame rails I3 and I3'.

The forward end of the vehicle is supported upon the oor 55 by means of a caster wheel 55.

The caster wheel 56 carries its axle 51 and the letter is disposed between the bifurcation of a fork 58.

The bridge of the fork is provided with a pivot pin 59. The latter is disposed through a fiat iron bar 60 and secured to the transverse bar 24 whereby the caster wheel is permitted to have swiveling movements.

The bar 60 is spaced away from the rail 24 as best shown in Figure 2. The upturned ends of the bar 60 are welded to the lower side of the rail 24 and to the platform rails i4 and I4 respectively.

The caster wheel 5B is medially disposed with respect to the transverse width of the platform 23 whereby during a stearing of the vehicle upon the oor 55 the caster wheel, during its swiveling movements, does not contact with or knock down stacked merchandise. It has been found that in actual practice, that a single medially disposed caster wheel has many advantages over two caster wheels respectively secured under the forward corners of the platform 23.

As shown in Figure l a space under the platform and forward of the forward end of the rails I3 and I3 is co-operatively provided by means of the particular construction of the new device in which the caster wheel may define swivel movement during use.

It is desirable that, as shown, the transverse Width 0f thenerambulator be but. slightly greater than. thel transverse Width 0f a child seated there.- on whereby the new device may be readily steered along 4tortuaus passageways or aisles of a. selfserve grocery store readily and since the `device is comparatively narrow means are provided for preventing the perambulator from upsetting or tilting in directions transversely thereof such as would be possible should a grown person accidentally place his weight on one of the sides of the platform 23. Also obviously, in the event that a child securedon the seat of the new device should lean away from the said seat `and over the sides of the perambulator unduly7 the perambulator could be upset. The said means includes a pair of oppositely disposed pins 6I.

The pins are vertically disposed, the upper ends thereof being welded to the under side of th'e bar El). The lower portions of the pins 6l are each provided with a terminal end which is semiglobular in contour and as shown in Figure 2 said ends are both disposed a sufficient distance above the floor 55 so that they do not Icontact with said oor at times when the vehicle is wheeled about and upon the floor.

However, said terminal ends are disposed close enough to the adjacent surface of the floor 55 so that they will co-operate to prevent a movement transversely in either direction of the perambulator whereby a -child does not become spilled out of the seat 30 nor fragile merchandise such as eggs become spilled out of the baskets and the value thereof decreased.r

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a perambulator constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that 4my invention is susceptible of some change and modification including variations in the shape and size of the parts without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation ofthe several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as claimed.

What I claim and desire to secure Letters Patent is:

A device for the purposes described comprising two like spaced apart sides adapted to be Vdisposed vertically having front and rear ends, said sides each being step-cut to provide three steps; a platform disposed across the lowermost steps; an upper shelf disposed across the uppermost steps; a seat disposed across the intermediate steps; a lower shelf disposed across the bottoms of said sides; said platform being disposed above and extending forwardly beyond said lower shelf, all of the said parts being secured together for providing a form sustaining frame; a caster wheel pivotally attached to the lower side of said platform approximately medially and forwardly of said platform; oppositely disposed wheels rotatably mounted on the rear of said frame, all of said wheels being adapted to roll on a floor and support said frame upright with respect to said floor; an arm rest for each end of said seat secured to said frame, a detent strap disposed across and above said seat having its ends respectively secured to said arms for preventing a child, having its feet on said platform, from raising off of said seat; a steering handle attach'ed to said frame disposed above, rearwardly 'ad'transversely with respect to the `upper shelf;

and a guard-rail disposed across' and above the forward end of said upper shelsaid rail being secured to said frame for preventing a basket at times when the latter is disposed on said upper shelf, between said rail and said handle, from having sliding movements longitudinally of the device.

, PAUL C. GALLAGHER.

REFERENCES CITED K The `following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number D. 137,036 1,215,085 5 V1,353,180 2,181,892 2,362,186 Y 2,388,441

Number Great Britain T.. May v2'?, 1937 

